Russian Documentary “Russians at War” to Be Shown in Zurich Film Festival

The film "Russians at War," directed by Anastasia Trofimova, is set to be shown at a film festival in Zurich.

Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed "outrage at this decision" and "condemned the attempt to provide Russia with a cultural platform where it can whitewash its war crimes while Russian troops continue to commit atrocities against Ukrainians."

On September 17, Trofimova's film was shown in Toronto despite protests from Ukrainian community in Canada and its prior removal from the TIFF program. The screenings occurred shortly after the festival concluded on September 15, but still within its framework.

"Russians at War" premiered at the 81st Venice Film Festival earlier in September, depicting Russians forces as "ordinary people” and failing to show the destruction and war crimes they commit.

To make the film, director Anastasia Trofimova spent seven months alongside Russian soldiers near the front lines in Ukraine, although she did not obtain permission to create the film. She claims that she saw no signs of war crimes committed by the Russians.

The State Agency of Ukraine for Cinema condemned the film's screening, calling it "covert Russian propaganda." The Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications added Russian director Anastasia Trofimova to the list of individuals posing a threat to Ukraine's national security.